Minor work: 40 — In Montréal, exit 65 (A-520, boulevard Marcel-Laurin)

The Cavendish Boulevard overpass is getting a complete reconstruction, which means eastbound drivers on Highway 40 will lose access to exit 65 for Marcel-Laurin Boulevard during overnight hours starting late February 2026. According to Quebec 511, the exit will be closed Saturdays from 11:59 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning, forcing drivers to continue to exit 68 at Stinson Street and make a U-turn to reach their destination. The work is scheduled to run from February 28 through March 1, 2026, and has been classified as "major" severity by provincial traffic authorities. For West Island residents, this closure hits right at the intersection of convenience and chaos. The Marcel-Laurin exit serves as a crucial gateway between the highway system and local neighborhoods, connecting commuters to everything from the Loblaws at Cavendish Mall to the residential streets that snake through Côte-Saint-Luc and Montreal West. Weekend evening plans — whether you're heading home from a 5 à 7 downtown or making a late-night dépanneur run — will require a bit more patience and planning. The timing suggests this is part of Quebec's ongoing infrastructure renewal push, though the province hasn't detailed what specific improvements the overpass reconstruction will bring. Given the age of many Montreal-area overpasses and the province's recent focus on structural upgrades, this likely involves everything from deck replacement to updated safety features. The detour route via Stinson Street isn't particularly onerous under normal circumstances, but anyone who's navigated weekend construction zones knows that "minor" detours have a way of creating unexpected bottlenecks. Smart drivers might want to scout alternative routes through Décarie or consider surface streets like Côte-Saint-Luc Road, depending on their final destination. The work schedule — overnight Saturday into Sunday — shows some consideration for commuter patterns, avoiding the Monday-to-Friday rush hour crush that defines Highway 40. Still, it will affect anyone with weekend plans that involve crossing this particular piece of Montreal's transportation puzzle. While 2026 feels comfortably distant, this kind of major infrastructure work has a way of expanding beyond its original timeline. West Island drivers would be wise to bookmark this closure and start mentally preparing for what will likely become a familiar detour dance. After all, in Montreal, the only thing more reliable than road construction is the creative ways we learn to navigate around it.